Fire escape



Nov. 1, 1927.

1,647,841 w. w. PHILLIPS FIRE ESCAPE Original Filed June 1 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 1, 1927.

W. W. PHILLIPS FIRE ESCAPE Original Filed June 13, 1925 4 Sheets Sheec 2 Nov. 1, 1927. 1,647,841

W. W. PHILLIPS FIRE ESCAPE Original Filed June 13, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 a t l INVzNToR 3 VVaZZer 7V Phllzfis J r I Nov. 1, 1927.

w. w. PHILLIPS FIRE ESCAPE Original Filed June 15, 1925 4 sheets-sheet 4,

ZNVL'NTOR Patented Nov. 1, 1927.

PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER W. PHILLIPS, OF FRANKFORD, DELAWARE.

FIRE ESCAPE.

Application filed June 13, 1925, Serial No. 36,784. Renewed August 24, 1927.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in a fire escape, and has for its primary object, to construct a device of this character, which will be exceedingly simple and efiicient in operation, strong and durable, as well as capable of being stored in a compartively small space.

Another object of this invention is to so construct the fire .escape that a portion thereof may be utilized as an article of furniture.

A further object of my invention is to produce a flexible foldable ladder of wire or stamped metal parts, linked together so as to be capable of folding back and forth in zigzag fashion for storage in a rotatable drum located within an anchorage, which ladder may be used as an article of furniture. v

A still further object of my invention is to so construct the side sections of the ladder that when the latter is in use, the rounds will be spaced from the wall of a building in order that the toes of the person using the ladder may be placed squarely on the rounds.

Still another object of this invention is to provide means on the ladder for engagement with the window frame or sill of a building to anchor the ladder, if for any reason the combined storage and anchorage element is not a sufiicient anchorage, as 111 the case of a very heavy person using the ladder. 7

With these ends in view, this invention consists in the details of the construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, may understand how to make and use the same, I will describe its construction in detail, referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings forming apart of this application, in which 7 Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the fire escape constructed in accordance with my inven tion, the seat of the anchorage device being in a raised position and a portion of the ladder removed.

Fig. 9., is a section at the line 2..2 of

Fig. 1 with the seat of the anchora e device lowered or closed and the drum left in ele vation.

Fig. 3, is a fragmentary sectional view of a building showing the manner of using my improved fire escape.

Fig. i, is a fragmentary front elevation of the ladder constructed of wire.

Fig. 5, is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 6, is a fragmentary front elevation of a ladder constructed from stamped sheet metal. V

Fig. 7, is a side elevation or edge view thereof.

Fig. 8, is an edge view of one of the links or sections used for anchoring the ladder to a window frame or sill.

Fig. 9, is a similar view at right angles to Fig. 8. i i

Fig. 10, is an enlarged side elevation of one of the sockets to receive an end of one of the ladder rounds.

Fig. 11, is an end view thereof.

Fig. 12, is a side elevation or edge view of a ladder, constructed from flat sheet metal.

Fig. 13,,is a front elevation thereof, one ofv the rounds being shown in section to illusso trate one method of construct-ion and mount; mg. l 1

Fig. 14 is a face view of one of the anchoring links formed from sheet metal.

Fig. 15, is an edge view thereof.

In carrying out my invention as herein embodied, 2 represents an anchorage device which, as herein shown, may be constructed for use as an article of furniture, such article. here being illustrated as achair. This anchorage device includes a housing 3, the upper open end of which is normally closed by a cover or seat 4 hanged at 5 to one edge of the housing 3.

lVithin the housing 3 is revolubly mounted a drum 6 open at the top, the mounting of said drum being accomplished by a bolt 7 or its equivalent, passing through the bottom wall of the drum as well as the bottom wall of the housing, and as will be obvious, this drum is of such size as to be completely concealed when the cover or seat 4- is low ered or closed. The aforesaid revolubly mnunted drum associated with the hone ing 3 to permit a folda-ble ladder, hereinafter described, to be disposed over any desired portion of the furniture, thus permitting either a high or low portion of the furniture to be disposed against the wall beneath a window.

Within the drum 6 and to the side walls thereof, are secured suitable cleats 8 by means of rivets 9 or their equivalent, to which cleats, are fastened the long straight links 10 of the flexible foldable ladder 11. A relatively short portion of this flexible ladder is made up of long straight links 10 connected by short links 12, in order to provide a part that will accommodate itself to the various irregularities between the anchorage device and the outer surface of the window frame or sill, and in order that the seat or cover 4 may be closed while the ladder is in use the upper edge of the housing 3 has notches 13 for the reception of some of the links. In addition to the short section of the ladder, which comprises the long and short links above mentioned, said ladder includes the arcuate side pieces 14, which when made from wire are so fashioned that each includes an eye 15 at each end, and another eye 16 intermediate its ends for the reception of an end of a round 17. 'By constructing the side pieces in this manner, when the ladder is in use, the ends of each side piece will engage the face of a wall, as shown in Figure 3 and hold therounds 17 away from the wall, so that a person using the ladder may "place his toes squarely on the rounds, or

more accurately, the balls of the feet may be placed squarely on the rounds and the toes allowed to extend beyond, which will reduce the chances of the person slipping.

It is to be understood that in producing a complete ladder, the side pieces 14 are hinged together by means of links 18 which engage the eyes 15 of adjacent side pieces and it is also to be understood that some suitable means is used for securely connecting the rounds 17 with such side pieces.

If found desirable, the side pieces may be made from sheet metal, stamped as shown in Figures 6 and 7 and designated'by the numeral 14-; In this form. of side piece, the sheet metal is fashioned like an angle iron, so as to provide a web 19 and flange 20, while the ends are bent to provide the eyes 21 for the reception of the links 18, as described in connection with the form of the invention shown'in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive. To the web of each side piece, intermediate its ends, is secured in any suitable manner, a socket 22 for the reception of an end of a ladder round 17 which may be held in place by a pin 23 or its equivalent, passing through the socket and round.

As illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13 the ladder may be made from flat sheet metal strips, consisting of the arcuate side pieces 1 1 the ends of which are pivoted to ends of fiat link members 24 by means of rivets 25 or their equivalent.

Like in the other forms of the invention, the rounds 17 are mounted on the side pieces-intermediate their ends, and as illustrated in Fig. 13, one construction of round comprises a metallic shell 26, enclosing a filler 27, through which passes a rod 28, the ends of the latter projecting through the side pieces and headed to fasten all the parts together.

In order to provide for anchoring the ladder to a window sill or frame, the links adjacent the inner end of the ladder are provided with hooks 29, Figs. 8 and 9, which, when the ladder is made of wire, are brazed or otherwise suitably secured to one of the straight links 10, but where the ladder is made of sheet metal, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13, certain of the short links 24 have hooks 30 formed as parts of said links.

In practice, the ladder is folded in zigzag fashion and stored within the drum 6 carried by the anchoring device 3, and when the cover or seat 4 is closed, said ladder will be invisible. When occasion arises that necessitates the use of the ladder for escaping from a fire, the cover 4 is raised and the ladder thrown out of window, and since the drum 6 is rotatable. it is immaterial what position the anchoring device 2 happens to be in. If the person trapped in the burning building has sufficient time to place the anchoring device 2 in a desired position close to a window, the anchor hooks on the ladder may be caused to engage the window frame or sill, thus insuring the positive anchoring of the ladder, especially where it is necessary for a very heavy person to use the same. After the ladder has been thrown from the window, it is an easy matter for anyone to descend the same to safety, and as the ladder rounds are always spaced from the wall of the building, there is little likeli-' hood that the person will miss his footing.

Of course, I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction as herein shown, as these may be varied within the limits of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is 1. A fire escape comprising. in combination, an anchoring device in the form of an article of'furniture and including a housing, a drum rotatably mounted on a vertical axis within the housing of the anchoring device, and a flexible ladder having one end fixed within the drum and foldable therein for storage.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2 in connection with obliquely disposed hooks on 10 certain of the links to act as anchoring means in connection With the window frame of a building.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto aifixed my signature.

WALTER W. PHILLIPS. 

